U.S. Gas Prices Rise Amid Iran Sanctions, Storms

 

United States. National gasoline averages rose about 7.5 cents this week to roughly $2.84 per gallon, GasBuddy data show, while diesel rose about 7.8 cents to $3.543 per gallon. Local markets varied: Peoria fell two cents to $2.83, Green Bay climbed 10.7 cents to $2.56, Michigan fell ten cents to...

State and Local Gas Averages Move with National Trends

 

United States. Local and state fuel averages shifted this week as national gasoline prices rose slightly while several states reported lower or steady pump costs. AAA and GasBuddy reported statewide changes Monday: Georgia fell to $2.64 per gallon, South Carolina held near $2.47, Michigan rose to about $2.96, and Peoria...

IMF Sees 2026 Growth Steady Amid Tariff Shock

 

Washington: The International Monetary Fund said global growth will hold at 3.3 percent in 2026 after revising forecasts up 0.2 percentage points from October, citing easing trade tensions and strong technology investment, particularly in artificial intelligence. The WEO update credits gains mainly to the United States and China and projects...

IMF Raises Global Forecast as AI Investment Surges

 

Washington — the International Monetary Fund said Monday it raised its global growth forecast to 3.3% for 2026, citing rising artificial intelligence investment and easing trade disruptions. The IMF also upgraded the United States to 2.4% growth and projected China at 4.5%. It raised India’s 2025 growth estimate to 7.3%,...

World Bank Forecasts Slight Rebound in 2026 Growth

 

Washington The World Bank released its Global Economic Prospects report on January 13 stating global GDP growth will slow to 2.6% in 2026 from 2.7% in 2025 before rising to 2.7% in 2027. The bank said about two thirds of the upward revision reflects stronger US growth and noted an...

Jobless claims rise modestly; productivity surges recorded

 

WASHINGTON. The U.S. Labor Department reported initial jobless claims rose by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 208,000 for the week ended January 3, while the four-week moving average fell to 211,750. Continuing claims increased to 1.914 million for the week ended December 27. Third-quarter worker productivity grew at its fastest...

States Report Mixed November 2025 Employment Outcomes

 

United States federal- and state-level employment releases show mixed November 2025 labor-market results. State reports indicated unemployment rates rose in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Washington, Oregon and Ohio while Massachusetts held at 4.7%; payrolls varied by state with pockets of gains in leisure, hospitality, professional services and losses in construction and government....

U-Haul Data Shows Continued Migration to Sunbelt States

 

United States — U-Haul's 2025 Growth Index shows ongoing population shifts toward Sunbelt states, with Texas ranked first, followed by Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina. The report, based on more than 2.5 million one-way transactions, lists California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts among states with the...

States implement coordinated minimum wage increases Jan. 1

 

United States: State and local governments implemented minimum wage increases and related tax measures taking effect Jan. 1, 2026. Arizona raised its statewide minimum to $15.15 and Tucson to $15.45 under Proposition 206; Washington’s rate rose to $17.13 statewide and Seattle to $21.30; New Jersey increased to $15.92 for most...

States Increase Minimum Wages Effective January First, 2026

 

United States. State governments and labor agencies announced nationwide minimum wage increases effective Jan. 1, 2026. Ohio will raise non-tipped pay to $11.00 and tipped to $5.50, with the applicability threshold rising to $405,000. Connecticut will adjust to $16.94 using the Employment Cost Index. Missouri will set $15.00 after Proposition...